Tuesday, January 18, 2011

House and Senate Dems Respond to Susana Martinez NM State of State Address

Not long after Republican Governor Susana Martinez finished her first State of the State address to a joint session of the New Mexico legislature this afternoon, House and Senate Democrats called a press conference at the Roundhouse to make a statement in response to the speech. Several Dem lawmakers also took questions. I wasn't there, but a Tweet by @Cocolaboca noted that, "Senator Linda Lopez questioned about the Gov's appointments: "We're going to have a fun day in Senate Rules." I like it.

The Majority lawmakers also released the following written statement containing their prepared remarks:

Senate and House Majority Response to State of State Address Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Albuquerque) Rep. Rhonda S. King (D-Stanley)

We appreciate the issues that Governor Martinez highlighted in her first State of the State address. Many of these issues are near and dear to us and our constituents as well. The new challenge before the governor and the legislature is finding a way to meet the needs of our state that is fair to all its citizens.

Legislators from 112 distinct districts around the state join together representing the many views and concerns that together make us one. Every year, the Legislature convenes to carry out the will of the people of New Mexico. We set priorities, pass laws and seek to represent our constituents to the best of our ability.

It’s our duty. And it is the governor’s duty. It’s the duty of both the legislature and the executive to not put the special interests ahead of the common good.

We agree with Governor Martinez’s call for action on government efficiency, transparency, and creating jobs. We also agree that more must be done to ensure that every child leaves the third-grade able to read.

And we hope the governor acknowledges all of the hard work we have done in the past few years. We have provided a solid foundation with significant improvements to the educational system and with legislation that fosters economic growth. We hope she will work with us to build on this foundation so that we can continue to move New Mexico forward.

In the past few years we’ve made sure that our most vulnerable citizens are taken care of during these challenging financial times while increasing teacher pay and maintaining classroom budgets so New Mexico’s children do not falter. Times remain challenging and people still need help.

And programs that work need to be considered for preservation because they help people.

We will continue to support small businesses and job growth. We passed the Small Business Regulatory Reform Act in 2005. We recognize that small businesses are the economic engine of many of our communities across New Mexico.

We will continue to promote the value of a child’s education. We believe public education is not only a right; it’s a promise to our children and grandchildren. We must make sure all our children have the opportunity to succeed.

We must not forget the value of our community colleges and branch campuses. We understand how important these institutions are to New Mexico. They provide high-wage jobs in our communities and they also provide the opportunity for our citizens to receive training to increase job skills that they might not otherwise have access to.

Finally, we will continue to support the responsible development of our state’s natural resources. Job creation and the protection of the natural resources can work hand and hand.

There are -- and will be -- legitimate differences. And when those differences emerge, we will not be afraid to stand up for our constituents. And we know, that we too, have to find a common ground in order to keep New Mexico moving forward.

We pledge to work with the new governor to get things done, achieve these goals and keep our state growing.

We pledge this because the people of New Mexico deserve nothing less.

We wish the new administration well. And we look forward to working with the executive branch to meet the needs of our state during these challenging times. We hope to provide New Mexicans with a balanced budget that supports education, promotes job growth, and preserves programs that serve our most vulnerable citizens.